Hottest Moments From Esports World Cup Festival Week 1

Fans celebrated esports star Modhi "madv" Alkanhal at the stc Gaming Hall, entered intense VALORANT action in the King of the Hill tournament, and explored cultural showcases at Japan Park in the Crunchyroll Box. They tried taiko drumming, watched a live sword performance, and witnessed how competitive gaming and global traditions could unite under one festival.

Here’s a look at some of the best experiences from the Esports World Cup Festival’s opening week.

Madv Day

This week, attendees gathered at the stc Gaming Hall to honor the rise of madv. In addition to being a brilliant VALORANT player for Falcons Vega, madv is the team’s in-game leader. Her recent tournament wins in Saudi Womens eLeague 2025 Majors 1 and 2, Red Bull Instalock 2025, and the Saudi Womens eLeague Championship 2024 all highlight why she’s been ranked the best Saudi woman player for three consecutive years. There's no doubt that she’s a leading force among the women shaping the future of esports. If you haven’t met madv yet, then she will also appear during arena days between July 12th and 13th.

King of the Hill: VALORANT

Speaking of VALORANT, fans of its Deathmatch game mode duked it out in an exciting King of the Hill tournament. Under this fast-paced format, the top player or “king” had to defend their spot by defeating opponents one after another. Whenever the king fell, a new challenger claimed the throne. Every second, every move, every mistake mattered, and it was this intensity that kept everyone locked in.

Kenbu Sword Dance

The Kenbu Sword Dance event at Japan Park was a captivating stage performance. Attendees watched the art of traditional Japanese sword choreography, and the strength and precision required of the performers held everyone’s attention from beginning to end. Rooted in samurai culture, the dance was created to build courage and discipline. This performance reflected the same qualities needed to compete against the best of the best at EWC 2025.

Taiko Taiken by Sai

Another event at Japan Park was Taiko Taiken by Sai. This interactive experience involved a Sai member encouraging attendees to learn traditional taiko drumming. However, it was more than just a lesson. True to the esports spirit of EWC 2025, Taiko Taiken by Sai became a live challenge on stage. The audience was invited to a game of copying taiko drum steps. The deep and powerful sounds of the instruments resonated with the energy of the esports festival.

Wadaiko by Sai

Fans of the Sai performance group or attendees who didn’t get the chance to participate in the earlier Taiko Taiken by Sai experience weren’t out of luck, either. They got to enjoy a great performance by all five members of the group. Sai members amazed everyone with the beats of their traditional Japanese drums. This performance added a cultural highlight to the esports festival and further showed how EWC 2025 can bring people together through gaming and traditions from around the world.